Les Misérables, 2000
This is it! If you're only going to see one piece of Hugo's work converted to film, choose this one - the best adaptation I've seen of Les Miserables.
Gérard Depardieu is Jean Valjean. He is rough enough for Valjeans past and serene enough to carry the character to the end. A masterly performance by one of the greatest actors of our time!
John Malkovich's Javert is also very on target and trustworthy. I saw the French version and perhaps Malkovich's French was a bit slow, but at the same time it added to Javert's strict and thorough personality. So, in all, I guess Malkovich is Javert as well.
As I mentioned, I was lucky enough to see the French version - the English version, shot simultaneosly, is only half the length. When questioned why it was made, Depardieu answered, "Because it was on TV and on TV we could take time to respect the book." I don't know about the English version, but that is what I loved about the French; it respects the book! The Thénardiers, Éponine, Gavroche and others - they all take part in the story as they do in Hugo's original work. The producers haven't cut big chunks out at whim or added strange things in outbursts of "artistic freedom". One of the great masterpieces of world literature has been treated as it should be treated - with respect.
It was shot on location in Paris and the Czech Republic with an estimated budget of $20 million and released in Europe in 2000 and in the States in January 2001. It is available on DVD - and I do urge you to try to get hold of the French version.
Released
2000
Director
Josée Dayan
Cast
Gerard Depardieu
(Jean Valjean)
John Malkovich
(Javert)
Charlotte Gainsbourg
(Fantine)
Virginie Ledoyen
(Cosette)
Enrico Lo Verso
(Marius)
Christian Clavier
(Thénardier)
Veronica Ferres
(La Thénardier)
Asia Argento
(Éponine)
Duration:
400 mins